Inmate: Defendant confessed to 2005 slaying

Also, claims to have run an organized crime operation from prison.

Also, claims to have run an organized crime operation from prison.

SOUTH BEND Â? A prison inmate who claimed to lead the Midwest operation of an unnamed organized crime ring testified Wednesday about a confession he heard in a 2005 homicide.

Prince Rodjrell YamobiÂ?s testimony in St. Joseph Superior Court was a far cry from the usual testimony in a murder trial.

Yamobi is a key prosecution witness in the murder and conspiracy trial of Charles Jack, 27, of South Bend. Jack is accused of participating with Terrance Flynn, 20, in the fatal shooting last June of Dimitrick Teague.

Teague, 33, of South Bend, was found shot to death in a car at Klinger and Addison streets.

Deputy Prosecutor Joel Gabrielse called Yamobi to the stand primarily to tell the jury of JackÂ?s alleged confession.

Jack, who may testify on his own behalf, has denied he committed the offenses. On Wednesday, Flynn pleaded guilty to murder in exchange for his testimony and a 50-year sentence.

Yamobi, 35, serving a 60-year sentence at Indiana State Prison for an unrelated 1990 murder, said Teague Â?was like a brother to himÂ? from the time they met in 1988.

Yamobi said he had known Jack since the mid-1980s and allegedly was related to him. Jack had been an associate in YamobiÂ?s organization since 2004, Yamobi said.

The two had a disagreement over financial matters around the time Teague was slain, Yamobi told defense attorney Gregory Kauffman during a detailed cross-examination.

Yamobi, formerly known as Roderick Wright, testified that despite the fact he has been in prison 16 years, he is able through visits and smuggled cell phones to oversee 40 people and run the Midwest operation of an organized crime ring.

The main purpose of the organization is to deal Â?drugs, prostitution and extortion,Â? Yamobi told Kauffman.

Deputy Prosecutor Gabrielse said after court that he was not aware of any criminal investigation into YamobiÂ?s alleged activities or any pending charges against him.

The inmate testified Teague was an associate who oversaw all the South Bend area people for him and was helping him challenge his murder conviction. Jack was another associate, Yamobi said.

Not long after Yamobi heard of TeagueÂ?s death on television, Jack called him, according to testimony. In a visit to the Michigan City prison, Jack said he had killed Teague, Yamobi said.

Yamobi admitted he contacted police last fall in part to seek revenge on Jack. He also said he hoped for assistance in his attempt to get out of prison because he is not guilty of the 1990 murder.

Investigators from the County Metro Homicide Unit worked with Yamobi and an undercover office from Elkhart to purchase a handgun from Jack. That gun, which had been buried, was the weapon used to shoot Teague, Yamobi said.

Yamobi, who said he had never heard of co-defendant Flynn, denied giving Jack and Flynn instructions by cell phone to kill Teague.

He denied having the power to order people by cell phones to do things for him.

Flynn and Jack claimed during the police investigation that Yamobi told them by cell phone to kill Teague, according to court documents.